The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-14
HALTER AND FURRIER.
A GREAT CRIME RECALLED.
An Ohio Convict Furnishes an Alleged Solu-
tiOn of the Murder Of Engineer Ames

rpring gGeld fO.) Special.
William Murray, who was arrested here year
ago for burglary and robbery. the specific charge
being that he had robbed the residence of Mrs
Ross, at Troy, o., of three thousand dollars
worth of diamonds and jewelry, sent to the
pententiary for eight years. After his incar
ceration his wife gave up to the police largo
quantities Of jewelry her husband had stolen at
9ifferent times and places. Murray heard that
hisxSFlre tad revealed his secret, and vowed SOL
emnlv that he would Kill her, and Chief Of Po-
lice Walker. and Detective Norris, who had
cured his conviction He obtained the assist
anee of two pals by interviewing them in the
psnitentiary. The pals were to murder his wife
and Chief Walker, and he was to entce Norris
to the penitentiary and kin him with knife he
had made for the purpose.
His accom- plices weakened, go Murray has now
placed in the detectives hands confession
which duplicates his accomp plices in attempted
robbery of an express train on the Vandalia
road at Long Point water-t tank, in July, 1875.
When the midnight east-bound express stopped
at Long Point tank. which is in lonely piece of
woodland, Murray and of his pals boarded
the engine and covered the engineer and fireman
with revolvers, while the third boarded the
train, cut the bell-rope and uncoupled tho ex-
preas car Murray shot engineer Milo Ames
dead because he refused to 60 ahead and then
ran the engine and express car three-tourths of
a mile from the train.
The robbers .hen attempted to break open the
ear, but were prevented by the messenger, who
kept them at bay with a revolver. The approach
OF the conductor and passengers frightened the
robbers away.
The true story OF this robbery and murder has
never before been known. Murray says he was
inoruced to make the confession by the fact that
) his numerous robberies would keep him in the
~penitentiary most of his life, and he hoped
by the confession, to rid hmsalf of life impris-
onment by hanging. One accomplice is now in
St. Louis, and Detective Norris has gone there
20 get him. The other is in the far West.
The robbery created great excitement at the
iipe, and James Burke, the express messenger
who acted with such bravery and pluck. is still
remembered. The details Of the affair are rs
followe: On the morning Of July g. 1878, at
about o'clock, as express train No. 5, bound
ehst, on the Vandalia, drew up at Long Point,
watering station about forty one miles west of
Terre Haute, the Adams express car un-
coupled and two armed men boarded the
engine, presenting revolver at the
engineer, Milo Ames, and commanding him to
'let her co." Ames was stupiied by the sud
dennsss of the attack and stood for moment
potiopless at his post Again he was commad-
el to pull her open," but still did not move.
The robbers, finding that he did not obey their
command, and having no time to lose. fred upon
him simultaneously, one bullet passing through
the heart and coming out just below the shoul-
der blade, Anles was instantly killed The
other ball struck watch II. the vest pocket of
Anes. The fireman, who was in the rear of the
tender. whore he Was about to adjust the water
NH a -1ncki
toners on the engine. wisely concluding that
discretion was the better part of valor, he
jumped off into the ditch. The robbers finding
themselves In possession, set the lever down to
the last notch and opened wide the throttle
valve. A third man had pulled the coupling
ear. There was full head Of steam on, and
under ordinary circumstances the engine
could have drawn a single car attached to it to a
distance of several miles, but the air brakes
were set and OF this the robbers were probably
not aware, or. ii they were. knew nothing about
the machinery connecting the brakes with the
engine. At all events the brakes remained sct,
and as a consequence the engine stopped after
running only about two miles.
II When they come to q stand still the robbers
got off the engine and approached the express
ear, calling upon the messenger Burke to open
the doors on penalty Of death should he refuse
They shouted, "Let us fn Jack" He replied,
"You IT, -, I'm ready for you; if you ever
come 10 here you dead men," The car was
provided with doors only on tine sides, there be-
ing no entrance through the ends of the car.
The messenger had guessed the state of affairs
when the car started off at such high speed
without having stopped long enough for the en-
eine TO take water. He began to barricade the
doors, throwing his heavy safe and large pack
lSes of freight against them in such manner nc
10 make II extremely difficult for any one te